And Then the Trees Fell Down

We had a Major Storm on Monday. If not a small tornado, then something very close. It was very localized, basically only affecting the houses on the lake for about four miles. I was inside with the children, having been driven in by the sound of thunder, and we watched the rain start. Then the wind started to pick up. Then it hailed and rained harder and the wind got violent and then trees fell.

When we went outside to inspect the damage after the storm was over, we found a lot of it.

This tulip poplar by the driveway uprooted and landed on a power line. Thankfully, the line held, but we obviously lost power.

Our driveway turned into a many-branched river.

A lake formed at the bottom of the paddock and overflowed onto the road.

The tiny creek in the hollow became a pond, (can you spot the happy ducks in this photo?) and a Kentucky coffee bean tree fell over.

Happy boys running to inspect this exciting new lake.

The people trying to drive on the road on the other side of this sudden lake were not so happy.

The top quarter of a horse chestnut tree by the driveway snapped off.

And three-quarters of the maple tree near the north corner of the front porch twisted right off. I cannot express how grateful we are that it did not land on the porch.

It makes a wonderful jungle gym.

We were without power for about eight hours and without cable and Internet capabilities until this afternoon. We have one hell of a mess to clean up out there, and it will take us many, many hours.

But. (And this is a big, huge, grateful but.)

No one was injured. The house sustained no damage. Nothing fell across the bottom part of the driveway, so access to the house hasn't been blocked. 

And we have a really good start on next winter's firewood.